Container assembling machine



Nov. 23, 1937. s. BERGSTEIN CONTAINER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 VVT/TT lNvENToR. 6AM/151. B4-Ros rE/N.

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 23, 1937.

S. BERGSTEIN CONTAINER AS SEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet v2 S24/waa .BERGS rE/N.

BY Mmw INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 23, 1937. s, BERGSTEHQ I v 2,100,022

4 CONTAINER ASSEMBLING MACHINE INVENTQR; l i Sam/z eeesrf/M ATTORNEYS.

4 SheetSfSheet 4 INVENTOR. SAMUEL c-Res rE/N.

' ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 23, 1937. s. BERGSTEIN CONTAINER'ASSEMBLING.MACHINE Filed Aug. e, 1954 PaienadoNov. 23, 1931 UNITED STATES CONTAINER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Samuel Bergsten, Cincinnati, Ohio, assgnor to Edna May Bergsten and Robert Morris Bergstein, as trustees Application August 0, 1934, serial No. 738,635

9 Claims.

My invention concerns cartons for fragile articles, such as egg cartons, in which the articles are packed in compartments, provision being made for protecting the articles from breakage during D handling and shipping the cartons with the arti-1 cles therein. Myinvention more especially concerns such cartons of the type comprising an outer tubular container and an inner cellular structure which is inserted into the tubular outer container from. an end thereof; being an improvement upon'the carton disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 714,678, led March 8, 1934; although it will be understood that my present invention is not limited in all respects to -the use of carton structure of the type disclosed in said copending application.

One object of my present invention is to provide a mechanism to afford a secure fastening of the inner cellular container within the outer tu- 20 bular container, by simple means and by simple operation, adapted to the requirements of espea cially rapid packing of articles such as eggs.

Other objects will appear in the course of the l, following description, illustrated by the drawings, 2'-, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus which I prefer to employ, and embodying my invention; Figure 2 is a partial side elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a partial vertical cross section of 30 the same on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

' Figure 4 is an enlarged partial plan view of the two containers in process of assembly according to my invention, parts being broken away and omitted to reveal other iparts.

35 Figure 5 is avertical longitudinal section of the same on the line 5-,5 of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Figure 7 is a plan view of the blank used in 40 the preferred construction of the outer tubular container.

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the outer tubular container, showing the end con- 45 struction thereof.

Figure 9 is a partial side elevation of a modiiied apparatus which applies the adhesive to sides of the cells of the inner container, for adherence to'a side wall of the outer container.

no Figure 10 is a vertical cross section of the same on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

Figure 1l is a plan view of a carton, with one side portion broken away to show the adhesion of the cellslto the side wall of the outer container,

55 as made with lthe machine of Figs. 9 and 10,

Figure 12 is a vertical cross section oi the carton, on the line .I2- I2 f Fig. 11.

Figure 13 is a plan view of a blank for a modied carton wherein theinner container has its top part adhesively secured to the interior of the top part of the o'uter container closely along its median longitudinal line. I'

Figure 14 is a vertical cross section of a carton made up with the blank illustrated in Fig. 13, dotted lines at the top of the figure representing the lid portions when raised for'access to the carton. f

Figure 15 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of apparatus for applying the adhesive to 15 the top part of the inner cellular container and assembling the carton illustrated by Figs. 13 and 14.

Figure 16 is a partial vertical cross section o1 the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 15, on the line I6l6 of Fig.. 15, .certain supporting parts being 20 omitted.

'Ihe outer tubular container of the rst example, Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, is very similar to that disclosed and claimed in my' prior application above referred to. It is so designed that it will have front, bottom and rear walls, and a top wall with a lid portion making up the major intermediate part of its length, which is weakly joined, as by perforatlons, to end marginal `portiuiils which connect to both the front and rear wall ofthe container and maintain its tubular form when the lid portion is separated from them.

The blank for this container, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, is a single sheet of paper stock with a main rectangular part l, from one end -of which extends a narrower flap part 2. This main part l is scored along lines 3, 4, 5, and 6 so that there e are defined a narrow front wall 1, a wider bottom wall 8, a narrow rear wall 9, and a wide top wall lll, succeeding each other in parallel relation. Extending from the main part I alongside the iiap part 2, at each end thereof, are tabs ll' having continuations of the score line E, so that they bend inside the front wall y along with the flap part 2; and they are adhesively, or otherwise 45 suitably secured to the top edge part of the front wall 1. rllhey thus serve to hold the blank in collapsed at tubular shape when all of the folds have been made on the score lines 3, 4, and 5.

Near the respective ends of the top portion lll,

lines of perforations I2 extend theracross, substantially nearer the ends of the blank than are the dividing cuts between the ap 2 and the connecting tabs Il. These lines o1 perforations join the cuts by diagonal cuts I3; and at the rear 55 ends of these lines oi perforations I2, similar diagonal cuts It run to the score line 5 where the top ill folds on the rear Wall 9.

At the middle of the free edge of the front wall 'i a segmental recess I5 is left therein; and at the middle of the score line junction of the flap 2 with the top i8, an arc shaped cut I8 is made in the ap 2, leaving a flap or tab I 'l that may be pressed into the recess I5 to aord a nger hold to open the middle lid portion 60a of the top wall, torn loose at the perforations l2..

This blank is folded on well known machinery, which is provided with adhesive applying means; the blank being folded on score line 5, bringing top I0, flap 2 and tabs Ii across bottom 8 and rear Wall 9, and then, when adhesive has been applied to tabs II, the front wall 1 is folded onto tabs II, completing the tubular outer container in fiat knock-down condition, in which it is stored and shipped, ready to set up into tubular form to receive the inner cellular container.

This cellular inner container comprises the middle downwardly converging members I8 and the outward members I 9 slanting upward'from the bottoms of these middle members I8; all of the four members I8 and I9 being pressed to form cavities 28, each approximately of the shape of one side of an egg. Normally, these portions have an outward spring, due to the resiliency of the pressed pulp material of which they are made, so that they will not enter an open end of the above described outer container Without some contraction. Also, these inner containers are not fully self supporting as to outward spreading of the portions I8 and I9, especially when their oppositely facing cavities 20 have received eggs. I provide apparatus for facilitating the support and handling of these inner containers under these conditions, and for permitting an especially rapid insertion of the lled inner containers into the tubular outer containers.

I also, in conjunction with the method of holding, filling and inserting the inner containers, just above described, provide a method and means for fastening the inner container in the outer container so that it will not slide out either open'end. The bottom folds 2|, where the portions I 8 and I9 connect together for their up- Ward divergence, are, for a major portion of their length, fairly straight and adapted to bear down on the bottom 8 of theY outer tubular container. As is seen best in Fig. 5, these folds 2l have these major bearing portions 22 alternating with slightly upwardly arched portions 23; the latter being coincident with the bottoms of respective egg cells formed by the cavities 28. My method of fastening the cellular container in the outer container comprises, broadly stated, the .contact of the bottom folds 2| with adhesive supplied in the paths of these folds as the cellular container enters the outer container; as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, where the adhesive 24 is seen being applied by the rollers 35 to the portions, which drag the adhesive in along the bottom 8 of the outer container, in stripes 26. That is to say, the inner container brings in its adhesive merely incident to its movement into the outer container. When this movement is completed, with the cellular container fully in the outer container, there is a strip of adhesive 28 throughout the length of each bottom fold 2l, fully adhesivelyattaching the longer portions 22 of the folds to the bottom 8, and to a lesser degree also securing the shorter arched portions 23 to the bottom 8 of the outer container.

The ease of inserting the filled inner container into one end of the outer container is preferably afforded by means that spreads apart the adjacent ends of the bottom 8 and top I8 of the outer container, and means that pulls together the two portions of the inner container as the latter progresses into the outer container. Support of the cellular inner container is provided, to prevent lateral spreading as the eggs are inserted, by a trough shaped structure, along which the lled container may be slid into the outer container, which also is held up in full tubular condition by other trough shaped means, along which the tubular container has been slid to the means that spreads the top and bottom edges of its receiving end. This outer container is held in this position by one hand of the operator, while the other hand is used to grip the lled inner container and slide it into the outer container;

or two persons may cooperate in this work. For

example, one worker may place the inner container in the trough and ll it with eggs; the other Worker placing the outer container in the other trough and holding it while the first worker slides the lled inner container into the held outer container; and the second worker then taking the completed package away and stacking or packing it. In either case, my method admits of very rapid and economical operation, with little breakage of eggs, and very little care and attention necessary from the worker or workers.

As I` prefer to construct an improved apparatus for carrying out my method of producing my improved package, referring more particuiarly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a base frame 21, un-

derstood to have a lower footing portion which is not shown in Fig. 2, has a left hand arm 28 and a pedestal 29 at the right of the arm. On these is Supported the trough 30 for receiving and supporting the inner container while it is being filled. This frame 21 has a right hand arm 3| which supports the right hand end of the trough 32 that supports the outer container ready for reception of the inner container as above described.

The middle portion of the frame 21, above the plane of which the trough supporting arms 28 and 3| extend, supports a tank 33 to hold adhesive such as glue or the like, 24a, in which tank there is a roller shaft 34, journaled in the sides of the tank and having fixed on it two rollers 35 that dip the lower parts of their peripheries f in the adhesive 24a. Doctor or scraper blades 36, adjusted to or from the rollers 35 by adjust- 'I'he upper portions of the peripheries of these rollers extend up between the adjacent ends of the troughs 30 and 32, close to these ends and slightly above the planes of their upper surfaces, said planes being substantially at the same elevation. The roller shaft 34 is rotated by means of a pulley 38 fixed on one end portion thereof which extends past its bearing. This pulley has passing around it a belt 39 which passes around a smaller pulley 48 fixed on a shaft 4I that is journaled in a lower part of the frame 21 and which has fixed on it a larger pulley 42 with a belt 43. It will be understood that this belt passes down around another pulley, not shown; the several pulleys forming part of a speed reducing system through which the adhesive applying rollers 35 are driven from a suitable motor, also not shown. An idler pulley 44 bears on ther belt 39, being journaled on a bar 45 that is adjustable on the frame 21, being held for adjustment by a bolt 46 through a slot 41 in the bar. The tank 33. has a cover 48 with slots through which the rollers 35 extend upwardly; and the right hand outer-container supporting trough has its adjacent end supported on this cover 48 by pads 43 to which it is screwed by screws l).

Near the right hand end of the outer container supporting trough, at one side, isa tongue 5I upstanding from the base part of the trough where the base part extends past the trough side walls; this tongue being resilient to press on the inserted outer tubular container, to hold it in position by pressing it against the opposite wall of the trough. This means supplements the holding 'by the operator before mentioned, or may supplant it, relieving the operator of that duty. The means that spreads the top and bottom edges of the entrance end of the outer container, as here exemplified, comprises, for the lower edge, a hook member 52, formed of a flat strip bent with a longer lower part under and screwed to the adjacent end portion of the outer container supporting trough 32, and an upper part that hooks f around the edge of this trough end and slants up above the plane of the bottom of the trough.

- For the upper edge, this means comprises the similar hook member 53, which has its longer upper part xed on the horizontal arm 54 that extends in from an upstanding bracket 55 xed to the side extension ofthe base of the trough 32 as best seen in Fig. 3. The lower part of this hook' member 53 slants down to the right from its curved left hand junction with the upper part of the member. 'I'hese hook members, the lower one 52 and the upper one 53, are located midway of the widths of the containers alined in the troughs 30 and 32; and their slanting portions are so located and formed that when an outer tubular container is slid to the left along trough 32, its end edge portions will be intercepted by these slanting portions of the hooks 52 and 53 and bowed; the lower one downward below the plane of the upper surface of the bottom ofthe trough 32, and the upper one upward above the plane of passage of the top portions of -the cellu.- lar inner container coming in from the trough 3i). As the lower hook 52'is at'the middle, it does not engage lower portions of the inner container, though extending above the plane of their passage along the bottoms of the troughs; andthe upper hook is above the plane of passage of the l top middle portion of the cellular inner container. The hooks thus dispose the top and bottom edges of the entrance end of the outer container for easy entrance of the inner container, without in any way, themselves, obstructing this entrance.

The above provisions would not be fully adequatefor the easiest insertion, as the side edges of the entrance of the outer container are not distended, but on the contrary are slightly drawn in due to the outward bowing of the top and bottom edges as above described. The'provision is completed by the resilient prongs 56 secured to the lends of the side walls of the inner container supporting trough 30 adjacent to the above de' y rst cell portion', and upon each successiveI portion 20 reaching the prongs 56. 'Ihe prongs thus draw the inner container together transversely, so that it, in each successive cross section reaching the entrance of the outer container is so narrow as to readily and smoothly enter it.

The prongs 56 being resilient, do not press inin ample and regular quantity and carried into the outer container and distributed in stripes 26 along the bottom thereof, as previously referred to. g

Another very important advantage of pulling downv the end edge of the bottom 8 of the outer container, by the hook 52 at its middle, is that the portions of this edge in line with the rollers 35 are well below the plane of passage of the bottomfolds 2l of the inner container, and the adhesive carried by said folds 2l, so that no adhesive is scraped oif by these end edges of the bottom 8. Thereis no smearing of adhesive at any place where it would cause sticking of packages to each other, in their subsequent packing, pending complete drying of the adhesive; and no unsightly appearance is given to the package at any part of it, as might be with inadequate control of the adhesive application.v

As the inner container reaches the farther portions of the outer container not spread by the hooks 52 and 53, and passes from the drawingtogether prongs 56, the inner container is closely hugged by the top I8 and bottom 8, and it expands into firm contact with the sides 'l and 9 of the outer container. The result is that the inner container is held rmly in the outer container, permitting handling and packing of the completed packages while the adhesive is still setting and drying or hardening.v The adhesive may be glue, or any suitable adhesive.

In the example of Figs. 9, 10, l1, and 12, the outer and inner containers are the same as in the rst example of Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive. The difference is in the place of application of the adhesive, and in the modification of the apparatus for lso doing. 1

The apparatus is generally similar to that of the preceding example, with frame 21 having arms 28 and 3l supporting troughs 30 and 32, respectively. These troughs are similar to those of the preceding example; the left hand trough having the prongs 56 that draw together the sides of the inner container as it enters the outer container; and the right hand trough having the bottom hook shaped member 52 and the top hook shaped member 53, for spreading the bottom and top of the outer tubular container apart.

Instead of rollers applying adhesive to the bottom folds of the inner cellular container, however, a disk 35a contacts with sides of the cells 20 of this inner container, as best seen in Fig. 10. A tank 33a holds the adhesive 24a, into which the disk 35a dips; and a scraper 36a, adjusted by means 31a, regulates the amount of adhesive 24h carried up by the disk. The disk 35a is driven by a belt 39a around a pulley 38a fixed o'n-the disk shaft 34a, which is journaled in bearingaupstanding from the top of the tank 33a. This belt passes around a small' lower pulley 40a which isv iixed on a shaft with a larger pulley 42a, around which passes` a belt 43a, understood to be part of an Cil operative connection to suitable motive means, not shown.

As the sides of the cells 2li pass in contact with the adhesive 24h on the face of the disc, they carry with them portions of the adhesive, which is applied to the inner side of the rear wall 9 of the tubular outer container in a strip or stripe the outer container is of a, somewhat differentv construction; the inner container being the same cellular container shown in the two preceding examples. Here, the adhesive is applied to the top middle ridge 51 of this inner cellular container, at the junction of the two rows of cells, that is, where the two inner members I8 meet. As shown in Figs. 14 and 16, this ridge 51 has a slight middle depression throughout its length, at 58, so that two parallel beads 59 are formed, spaced by this depression 58. This is the same formation as seen in the preceding illustrations of the inner container; it not having been previously described in detail, as it is not of controlling consequence in the previous examples, except to form a bearing against the top wall of the outer container, for snug fitting of the two containers together.

The blank for the outer container, as shown in Fig. 13, is a simple rectangular sheet of paper stock, with parallel scores 3', 4', 5' and 6' across it,'delning the front wall 1', top wall I0', rear wall 9', bottom wall 8', and narrow flap I I',`\whlch receives adhesive by which it is connected to the bottom free edge of the front wall 1' when the blank is folded on the score lines. The top Ill' is so formed, by means of perforations and score lines, that it has two lid portionsV I" adapted to be opened when detached from the front edges and the end marginal portions of the top. Thus, the major middle portions of the lengths of the score lines and 6' are provided with perforations 5" and 6", respectively; and these join, by diagonal lines of perforations or cuts I3' and I 4', respectively, with transverse lines of perforations I2' that meet the ends of respective spaced score lines Si] along the longitudinal median line of the top l0. When the lid I0" is severed by tearing along these perforations 5" or 6" and I2", it hinges at its respective score line 60, to raise and uncover one row of cells of the inner container for removal of the eggs A therein. Semicircular slots I1 midway of the lengths of the perforation lines 5" and 6 serve to admit the finger or thumb under the lid Ill". A

The apparatus for assembling and adhesively securing together this modified outer container and the inner kcontainer is modied from those of the preceding examples to the extent that is required for applying the adhesive to the top ridge 51 of the inner container, instead of to the bottom or side as in the preceding examples.

A frame 21' has left hand pedestals 28 supporting the left hand trough which has prongs 55' laterally; being generally like that of the first two examples. 'Ihis frame 21' has right hand pedestals 3l' supporting the right hand trough 32', which is in all respects like that of the preceding examples; having the bottom and top hook roller 35.

to compress the inner containerv members 52 and 53 for spreading the bottom and top of the outer container, and having the side resilient member 5I to help hold this container while the inner container is inserted.

A pedestal 55 extends up from one side of the frame 21' and has a cross extension 56 from which depends a member with arms 56" extending to the left to carry a roller with its shaft 34' journaled in the end parts of the arms. This roller 35'. is so located that it contacts the top ridge 51 of the inner container as the latter enters the outer container. It is supplied with adhesive b y a second roller 35 on a shaft 34" journaled in the pedestal 55 and the main part of the member that has the arms 56"; this second roller 35" dipping into adhesive in a tank 33 supported on this member above the right hand trough 32'. A scraper 36 regulates the amount of adhesive brought up by this second roller; being adjusted by the means 31'. The two rollers 35 and 35" are rotated by means of a belt 39' passing around a pulley 38' iixedl on the shaft 34" of the second roller 35" and passing against a pulley 3B fixed on the shaft 34' of the first This belt 39 passes around a small lower pulley 40 xed on a shaft with a larger pulley 42', around which passes a belt 43', under` stood to form part of an operative connection with suitable driving means. not shown.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Apparatus for assembling an inner Icontainer with an outer tubular container by causing entrance of the inner container through an open end of said tubular container, comprising alined trough members with adjacent ends spaced apart, adhesive applying means between said ends, having its effective adhesive applying surface above the planes of the bottoms of the trough members and located in the path of I travel of a bottom portion of the inner container from one trough into the tubular container held in the other trough, whichbottom portion is to carry adhesive from said applying means and thereby adhere to the interior surface of the bottom of the tubular container, means re- -ceiving top and bottom edge portions of the open end of the tubular container as it is slid along the trough toward the adhesive applying means, said means diverging in the direction of sliding, to distort said edges upward and downward, respectively, and said means being laterallyrdisplaced from the path of travel of the bottom portion of the inner container, but effecting sumcient downward distortion of the bottom edge portion to prevent its scraping adhesive from the entering bottom portion, and said one trough, from which the inner container slides, being provided with members converging across the path of the inner container in the direction of its passage to the outer container, to reduce the width of the inner container as it enters the outer container.

2. Apparatus for assembling a flexible walled inner cellular container in an open ended rectangular shaped flexible walled outer container comprising spaced open ended holders, one for the outer container and one for the inner container, and means independentvof said holders for supplying adhesive to predetermined surface portions of said inner container during its insertion in the outer container.

3. Apparatus for assembling a exible walled inner cellular container in an open ended rectangular shaped flexible walled outer container comprising open ended holders, one for the outer container and one for the inner container, and means associated with said holder for the outer container for spreading the top and bottom walls thereof during insertion of the inner container therein, and means independent of said holders for supplying adhesive to predetermined surface portions of said inner container duringits insertion in the outer container. Y

4. Apparatus for assembling a flexible walled inner cellular container in an open ended rectangular shaped flexible Walled outer container comprising open ended holders, one for the outer container and one for the inner container, means associated with said holder for the inner .container for constricting the inner container side- Wise during its insertion into the outer container, and means independent of said holders for supplying adhesive to predetermined surface portions of said inner container during its insertion in the outer container.

5. Apparatus for assembling a flexible walled inner cellular container in an open ended rectangular shaped flexible walled outer container comprising spaced open ended trough shaped holders mounted in xed position, and means associated with said holders for facilitating the guiding of the inner container into the outer container, and means spaced between said holders for applying adhesive to predetermined portions of said inner container during its movement into the outer container. f

6. Apparatus for assembling a exiblewalled inner cellular container in an open ended rectangular shaped flexible walled outer container comprising spaced open ended trough shaped holders mounted in xedrposition, and means associated with said holders for facilitating the guiding of the inner container into the outer container, and means spaced between said holders for applying adhesive to predetermined portions of said inner container during its `movement into the outer container, and comprising glue rollers.

'7. Apparatus for assembling a flexible walled inner cellular container in an open ended rectangular shaped flexible walled outer container comprising open ended holders, one for the outer container and one for the inner container, and means associated with said holder for the outer container for spreading the top and bottom walls thereof during insertion of the inner container therein, and means associated with said lolder for the inner container for constricting the inner container sidewise' during its insertion into th? outer container.

8. An egg carton packaging machine comprising means to position and guide a exible Walled inner cellular egg receiving container during the insertion thereof into a rectangl'ilara :flexible Walled outer container, means to hold walls of the outer container open for receiving the inner container, and means for applyingl adhesive to the inner container during its iriserg. tion into the outer container.

9. An egg carton packaging machine comprising means to position and guide a exible'walled 30 inner cellular egg receivingcontainer duringthe insertion thereof into a rectangular flexible walled outer container, means to hold walls of the outer container open for receiving the inner container, and means for applying adhesive to the inner container during its insertion into the outer container, comprising glue wheels.

SAMUEL BERGSTEIN. 

